Dispensing receptacle to be mounted to the neck of a container holding a liquid to be dispensed



Dec. 1 1953 l. C. RICHARDS DISPENSING RECEPTACLE TO BE MOUNTED TO THE NECK OF A CONTAINER HOLDING A LIQUID TO BE DISPENSED Filed Jan. 27, 1950 [TH/EL C. RICHARDS,

IN V EN TOR.

A 7' TORNEK Patented Dec. 1, 1953 DISPENSING RECEPTACLE TO MOUNTED TO THE NECK OF A CONTAINER HOLDING A LIQUID TO BE DISPENSED Ithiel Charles Richards, Los Angelcabalif. Application January 27, 1950, Serial No. 140,942

11 Claims.

This invention relates to dispensing receptacles, and more particularly to such a receptacle adapted to be mounted to the neck of a container for dispensing a liquid or the like held by the container.

The receptacle of the present invention is adapted to be used with containers in which liquids, such as polishes, cleaning compounds or the like, are sold, and which in use are applied to some preselected surface by a dau'ber, a pad of cloth or other applicator. These liquids are generally dispensed and applied by either transferring directly to the applicator, whether it be in the form of a pad of cloth or some other form, a supply of the liquid which is then applied to the desired surf-ace or by transferring a supply of the liquid from the container into a separate receptacle from which it is subsequently removed by dipping the applicator into the same.

In the first operation, it is oftentimes difficult to transfer directly the desired amount of the liquid for if the applicator is held in contact with the opening of the container and the container inverted, too small a supply of the liquid is transferred and if the container is moved away from the applicator while in an inverted position, too much liquid is dispensed unless extreme care is taken. If a separate receptacle is used for bolding a supply of the liquid to be applied, it is necessary to handle both the container and the receptacle which oftentimes is inconvenient, particularly where a large surface, such as a motor vehicle or automobile body, is to be covered with the liquid.

These difficulties are obviated by the receptacle of the present invention for the same is adapted to be mounted directly to the container and holds a supply of the liquid in such a manner as to be easily accessible to the user. The receptacle herein shown comprises a shallow troughlike body member having an opening formed in the transverse wall thereof for mounting the receptacle to the neck of the container holdingthe liquid to be dispensed.

In one embodiment, an annular grommet of some suitable resilient material may be fixedly mounted about the defining edges of the opening and serves to not only seal the annular passage between the defining edges of the opening and the outer surface of the; neck but also to resiliently grip the neck of the container. to securely mount the receptacle thereto. Inanother.

form of the invention, screw threads may be formed about the opening to receive complementary threads carried by the neck of the container.

covers a substantial part of "the same and forms a cup-like element integral'with the body meniher. In the use of the receptacle of the present invention, after the same has been mounted to the neck of the container, the container is merely tilted so that a supply of liquid held thereby is poured or allowed to flow through the opening thereof into the cup-like element. After the de sired quantity of the liquid has been dispensed into the cup-like element, the container is moved back to an erect position and the liquid held by the cup will now flow into and partially fill the receptacle.

As the rim of the opening of the container is spaced above the transverse wall of the receptacle, the depth of the liquid held by the receptacle will be equal to the distance that the rim opening of the container is spaced above the transverse wall of the receptacle.

The container, as should now be understood, forms a handle to be grasped in the one hand of a user while the applicator held by the other hand is inserted or dipped into the uncovered portion of the receptacle after which the liquid transferred to the applicator can be applied to the desired surface.

When the supply of the liquid held by the receptacle has been used, it is only necessary to again tilt the-container to cause a further supply of the liquid to fill the cup after which the container is again moved into an erect position for continued application of the liquid.

It will be seen that the receptacle cf the present invention provides a supply of a liquid or the like held by a container which is easily accessible to a user and which obviates the diilioulties previous'l'y had in applying liquids, such as polishes and cleaners, to the surface to receive the same.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be" hereinafter apparent from the following description, particularly when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure-1 is a sectional view of one form of the receptacle of the-present invention shown mounted to a container" in the position for use;

Figure; 2* i'sa view somewhat similar to Figure 1 but showing the bottle and container in a tilted position necessary to dispense the liquid from theroontainer';

Figure 3 is a plan view of the receptacle of the; present invention shown mounted to a contamer; i and:

Figure dis a view'showing a modified form; of

3 will not react with the liquid which is to be dispensed therefrom.

The body member I0, in this embodiment of the present invention, is formed with an opening in the transverse wall II thereof and mounted to the defining edges of this opening is an annular grommet or gasket I2 of some suitable resilient material, such as rubber. The grommet I2, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, is formed with a circumferentially extending groove in the outer surface thereof which receives the defining edges of the opening in the transverse wall II. The depth of the groove should be such, relative to the diameter of the opening, that the material of the grommet is under compression after the grommet is mounted to the wall. This insures that the grommet will remain fixed in the opening during normal use of the receptacle.

The wall of the Opening in the grommet is cylindrical and is adapted to pass the upper'end of the neck I 3 of a container such as indicated at I4, and which holds a supply of the liquid to be dispensed. The diameter of the opening of the grommet should be somewhat smaller than the diameter of the neck of the container so that the neck is compressibly engaged by the material of the grommet after the neck is forced through the opening in the grommet. With the material of the grommet under compression because of the oversize neck, there is no danger that liquid will seep between the outer surface of the neck and the wall of the opening in the grommet. It will also be seen that the compression of the material of the grommet by the neck securely mounts the receptacle to the neck of the container.

As the material of the grommet I2 is resilient and will yield or flow outwardly when the neck of the container is forcibly inserted through the same, the receptacle of the present invention can be used with containers of various manufacturers even though the necks of these containers vary in diameter.

The side walls of the body member ID are carried up over the same at the one side thereof to form an integral hood I 5 which extends over and covers a substantial part of the body member. The hood I5 forms with the side and transverse walls of the body member ID at the one side thereof, an integral cup-like element I 6 having an opening angularly arranged relative to the opening in the transverse wall I I.

In the use of the receptacle of the present invention, the neck I3 of the container I 4 is forcibly inserted through the opening in the grommet I2 to dispose the rim of the opening of the container a preselected distance above the transverse wall I I. After the receptacle has been thus mounted to the container I4, the container is tilted to dispose the opening of the cup I6 below the rim of the container so that the liquid held by the container 'will flow by gravity from the same into the cup I6. After a supply of the liquid has been poured into the cup I6, the container is then returned to the erect position, such as shown in Figure 1, to move the cup into a substantially horizontal position. This movement of the cup causes the liquid held by the cup to flow into and partially fill the receptacle. The depth of the liquid held by the receptacle, as previously explained, will depend upon the position of the rim of the opening of the container above the transverse wall I I.

With the container I0 now held erect in the one hand, the user may, by inserting an applica- 4 tor held in his other hand, transfer to the applicator a supply of the liquid which may be then applied to some desired surface by moving the applicator thereover. When the liquid held by the receptacle has been used and it is desired to again transfer liquid from the container to the receptacle, it is only necessary to again tilt the container and pour into the cup I6 a new supply vof liquid. The container is again returned to the erect or vertical position and the liquid held by the cup will again fiow into the receptacle formed by the body member.

To further facilitate the application of the liquid to an applicator and further to permit relatively large applicators to be used, the body member I0 is preferably enlarged at the end opposite the hood I5, as is clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawing, to form a relatively large substantially circular bowl-shape portion I1. It will be seen that the enlarged portion ll of the body member will permit a relatively large pad or applicator to be inserted thereinto to permit a user to pick up on the applicator used a relatively large amount of the liquid. This feature increases the usefulness of the receptacle of the present invention without increasing the overall size of the same.

It might be pointed out that the receptacle of the present invention can be used to dispense a measured amount of liquid for the cup I5 can be formed to hold a predetermined volume of liquid. If the rim of the opening of the container is disposed as such a position above the transverse wall I I that no liquid will return to the container after the container is moved to the erect position, the predetermined volume held by the cup I6 will, of course, be available to the user, for this volume will remain within the receptacle even after the container is moved into the erect position.

It has also been found that the receptacle of the present invention can be used as a drinking receptacle, particularly for small children who have not yet learned to drink directly from a container, such as a bottle. The receptacle, in this use, is secured to the bottle, such as, for example, one containing a carbonated beverage, and a quantity of the beverage poured into the cup I6. After the desired quantity of the beverage has been poured into the cup, the child may easily drink by placing his lips against the bowl-like portion I! of the body member in the same manner as he would a conventional drinking vessel, such as a cup.

There is shown in Figure 4 a modified form of the receptacle of the present invention in which elements identical to elements of the first described form of the receptacle are identified by the same reference characters.

The embodiment of the receptacle illustrated in Figure 4 differs from the earlier described embodiment only in the means used to mount the same to the neck of the container holding the liquid to be dispensed. In this form of the receptacle, the transverse wall II is formed with an upstanding annular flange I8 circumscribing the opening therein for passing the neck of the container. The inner wall surface of the flange is formed with threads I9 adapted to be engaged with threads 20 formed about the heck of the container and ordinarily used to mount a closure member thereto. The upper end of the flange I 8 may be provided with an inturned lip 2| carrying a gasket 22 against which the rim of the opening Winnin ii q sa bo y. me Wall means harried on one side of 's aidbodymelnb'er 'andg tend n upwa dl thereovem'o form, therewith a tee-.li 'eel men a s q ev i n el mqrm l as qt 1 i tim ,a .Q t e Bee h. 9 t we a e WI Qi L Q .w t lisa d .en efn mr b whereby tilting of said cqntainerjeauses the l i'qu held ther'e'b yto flow intosaidcup-HKe elenient; erection of said ,containerfi'a ilsing ,lflhe llfi l d' e lw Said u ll ik fim i Par ally fi l e. r a le sa 'q y membe b ii ee le at ls lQQPDOS P -SQ P. e 'i e q owl-" ha d eorfii nis wh het' 've 'y l reeapi l 'catorma be; inserted- 24A re e ta le. of th a e d s ib r h file: af ha lb .tlfQ ,l9 .dy, memb r, havin an en ng m sl ini e' e W1 ilh ei; en 39. ;r em me l-fi d about t leiini ieedee.of', l. id n ad eeeli t jl i ne th p r nd .Qithle ne s a 9 m e 11 to be dispensed g y-i beile e li l' me i m a d wil in b an awe arri b nd whene er- S i bee m mb etIQ ie'S i i mQL s K q jf i efw th dher n vW, l ,y said body ...me il a Ja -li e element arranged substantially ,rrorinal 'o the lo tudinal axis of theneckfof the I w en, recei ed W thi a en i le' m er whereby tilting of said container causes the liquid held thereby to flow .into said sup-like element, erection of said container causing the liquid held by sale. 2 e l zn ni to ar ia y filli l e'r ceptacle to a pthjdeterminedfbythe protrusion of said neck into said body member.

3. greceptacle of the type described, comprising; a, shallow, trough-.liker body.member havin an o ening formed int the lower wall the eqi n annular. resilient member fittedfab'out the defin ng edge, of. .saidwope'nin'g and adapted to receive the upper end of the neck of a container holding a supply of a liquid to be dispensed, said annular member resiliently engaging saidv wall o s v beginnin -Tatted' warm st-1's on-saidfb'ody pwa'rdly" thereover at: the d forming-a u'plike eleine'nt any normal to the'longitudina-l ai is ffog 51 e heel; fjt e containerwhen-received wi insaid an ler member; Wherebytiltingof cen er n ei sl t e i i i e h b 19w, nt9. elmike el m t-er n f i e nt ieer Qeu meth l b d' u like e em t tg fiow intd and partially-fill the re. tacles othat s id is'accessible for e'r lieeii e l pens ing' a liquid, comi en nk s m m f efiur h j m dc the'lower wan here n an, anmi ar; m e (i r n atel 1 having a cireu nfrential1yextending g oo e f or med about the outer surface thereof,

il fii ine edge said ape beine -Qe d unbiased erqq th r m t said r nular' {neinber to the lower-wall cf said body Inernber, the opening of said annular member Bing pl ed t l e v 'i n bm res g ge the neck of agonta'iner holding asupply of the i uidtsrb e s l d o mount Said v y m m err se d e n ame w th h ne Q eitqt udin in os id Dad's? ember d a ow,-

len ent carried. by the wane ,o'f said bod rnernber at, one side thereof, said element formingwith ,thewalls' of said body member a cupke. me ber Dav de an "o e ing facing said aperture and angul'arly arranged relative to the lower wall of said body member, whereby said container may be tilted to dispo'sethe opening Qf,.$a d., ue% ke ii b r l W th n container to thereby dispense said liquid into ens eike 'elmen h iq id d s e d n .Slgi lement flowing into 'and partiallyfilling haying "an' opening fo'rined in thef lower wall thereof; an annu ar member of resilient material haying an aperture-therein smaller than 7 .a m ans i'me i ne vSand; mem tq sa wall with thie aperture therein concentric with' isaid opening; the aperture of'said annular me ber being adapted to com'pre'ssively receive t-h neck o'i a container holding a supply of the l qu d to bedispen's'ed to mount said receptacle hsreiq With ih ne k of sai c n a ne rb r' ing into said body rneniber; t walls of said i thereof being exte 'ide'd V I by ike memberhaving an eeu eifly all aeedre n e ldwer a dab dy. mem er w ereby, said conelt bet e .to. d s se a u i rnernber below the neck a; the container, thereby dispensing said liquid lth fogu gh said neck into said cup-like ele rnen iltheliquid dispensed into said cup-like zne mb'er flowing into and partially filli-n said body member upon erectionof said ooiita -inerQ- v 6 rec'eptacle for dispensing a liquid, comprising: 'a shallow, trough-lilge body .member he; ,2; an Opening formed in thelower wall thereofran an agar; member fof resilient mat a lhaving ertuiteatherein smaller t an pping said member to said'wall with the aperture therein concentric with said opening; the aperture of said annular member being adapted to compressively receive the neck of a container holding a supply of the liquid to be dispensed to mount said receptacle to said container with the neck thereof protruding into said receptacle; the walls of said body member at one side thereof being extended up wardly to form a cup-like member having an opening angularly arranged relative to the lower wall of said body member and facing said neck whereby said container may be tilted to dispose said cup-like member below the opening of the container, thereby dispensing said liquid into said cup-like element, the liquid dispensed into said cup-like member flowing into and partially filling said body member upon erection of said container; said body member being enlarged at the side opposite said cup-like member to form a substantially circular bowl into which a relatively large applicator may be inserted.

7. A receptacle for dispensing a liquid, comprising: a shallow, trough-like body member having an opening formed in the lower wall thereof whereby the neck of a container holding a supply of the liquid to be dispensed may be passed therethrough to protrude into said receptacle; means carried by said lower wall sealingly engaging said neck and holding the same against accidental movement to mount said trough-like body member to said container; and a hood-like element carried by the walls of said body member and extending over and covering a portion of the same, said element forming with the walls of said body member a cup-like member having an opening angular-1y arranged relative to the lower wall of said body member and facing said neck whereby said container may be tilted to dispose said cup-like member below the opening of the neck of the container so that liquid held by said container may be poured into said cup-like element, the liquid dispensed into said cup-like member flowing into and partially filling said body member upon erection of said container so that said liquid is accessible to an applicator.

8. A receptacle of the type described, comprising: a shallow, trough-like body member having an opening formed in the lower wall thereof adapted to receive the upperend of the neck of a container holding a supply of the liquid to be dispensed; means for securing the neck of said container within said opening to thereby mount said body member to said container with the rim of the opening in the latter spaced above said transverse wall; and wall means on the one side of said body member forming a cup-like element arranged substantially normalto the longitudial axis of the neck of the container whereby tilting of said container causes the liquid held thereby to flow into said cup-like element, erection of said container causing the dispensed liquid held by said cup-like element to partially fill the receptacle; said body member being enlarged at the side opposite. said cup-like element to form a bowl-shaped portion into which a relatively large applicator may be inserted.

9. A receptacle of the type described, comprising: a shallow, trough-like body member having an opening formed .in the lower wall thereof adapted to receive the upper end of the neck of a container holding a supply of liquid to be dispensed; means carried by the lower wall of said body member engageable with the neck of the container for mounting said receptacle to said neck with the latter projecting above said lower wall; and wall means on one side of said body member forming a cup-like element arranged substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the inserted neck of the container whereby tilting of said container causes the liquid held thereby to flow into said cup-like element, erection of said container causing the liquid held by said cup-like element to flow into and partially fill the receptacle so that said liquid is accessible for application to a desired surface.

10. A receptacle for dispensing. a liquidv held by a container having external threads formed about the neck of the same, comprising: a shallow, trough-like body member having an opening formed in the lower wall thereof adapted to receive the neck of the container holding the liquid to be dispensed; means carried by said lower wall and formed with threads engageable with the threads on said neck for mounting said receptacle to said neck with the latter projecting through said opening; and a. hood-like element carried by the walls of said body member and covering a portion of the same, said element forming with the walls of said body member a cup-like member having an opening angularly arranged relative to the lower wall of said body member and facing said neck of the container, whereby said container may be tilted to dispose the opening of said cup-like member below the neck of the container to thereby dispense said liquid into said cup-like element, the liquid dispensed into said element flowing into and partially filling said trough-like body member upon erection of said container.

11. A receptacle for dispensing a liquid held by a container having external threads formed about the neck of the same, comprising: a shallow, trough-like body member having an opening formed in the lower wall thereof whereby the neck of a container holding a supply of the liquid to be dispensed may be passed therethrough; an upstanding annular flange carried by said lower wall and adapted to receive the portion of said neck projecting through said opening; internal threads carried by said flange and adapted to engage with the threads of said neck to mount said receptacle to said container with the neck thereof projecting into said receptacle; and a hood-like element carried by the walls of said body member at one side thereof and extending over and covering a portion of the same, said element forming with the walls of said body member a cup-like member having an opening angularly arranged relative to the lower wall of said body member and facing said neck of the container whereby said container may be tilted to dispose said cup-like member below the open ing of the container so that liquid held by said container may be poured into said cup-like element, the liquid dispensed into said cup-like member flowing into and partially filling said body member upon erection of said container.

rrrnEL CHARLES RICHARDS.

References Cited in the meet this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

